"And to the angel of the church in Pergamos (named the compromising church in NKJV) write, 'These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold THE DOCTRINE OF BALAAM, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus you also have those who have the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.' " (Revelation 2:12-16)
There were reasons that Balak sent for Balaam. Balaam heard what God said; he spoke it, and it came to pass. Balak sent the elders of Midian and of Moab with a diviner's fee. When those princes could not entice Balaam, Balak sent those who were more numerous and more honorable than the first group. They said for Balak, 'please let nothing hinder you from coming to me; for I will certainly honor you greatly, and will do whatever you say to me'. (Numbers 22-24)
I would say that Balaam, blessed to hear from God, taught Balak by listening to him in the first place. Balak was a pagan king, not motivated by God. Balak saw that a prophet of God, who spoke what he heard God say, was willing to listen to a pagan king when "honored" by his approach. What chance did the children of Israel stand against Balak's temptation? You see, Balaam never did curse Israel, but He was tempted enough to listen. My prayer is that each of us in the body of Christ recognize, and transgress not God's way of righteousness in Christ Jesus when the perverse way of Satan/Balak approaches.
"And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, 'These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: "I know your works, tribulation, poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.' "(Revelation 2:8-11)
"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, 'These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens". I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Indeed, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie---indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell upon the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
(Revelation 3:7-13)
These two churches, Smyrna and Philadelphia, described as persecuted and faithful, respectively, were spoken to in a hopeful, even congratulatory manner by the Lord. The others He regarded as "dead", "lukewarm", or He "had something against".
"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants---things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, WHO BORE WITNESS to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. Blessed is he who READS and those who HEAR the words of this prophecy, AND KEEP those things which are written in it; for the time is near."
(Revelation 1:1-3)
Luke 17:1-10
"Then He said to the disciples, 'It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him.' "
"And the apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith'."
"So the Lord said, 'If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down to eat'? But will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink'? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, WHEN YOU HAVE DONE ALL THOSE THINGS WHICH YOU ARE COMMANDED, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. WE HAVE DONE WHAT WAS OUR DUTY TO DO."
The apostles must have heard something stirring. They asked Jesus to increase their faith. It seems they wanted to understand how to do what Jesus had spoken (v.1-4). Jesus directed them to address the mulberry tree and, seemingly, to continue to do so. The result would be this understanding to them: what we have has been given to us.
"When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil." (Matthew 3:16,17;4:1)
"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me (Paul) free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on he things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit." (Romans 8:1-5)
"But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His." (v.9)
"Therefore, brethren, we are debtors---not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." (v.12,13)
"The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs---heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may be glorified together."(v.16,17)
Do you have the Spirit of Christ? If so, you recognize that the He is leading you out into the wilderness. The devil will tempt you to make your own way there. The Holy Spirit will empower you there, revealing His words to you. James writes, 'My brethren, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job, and seen the end intended by the Lord--that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.'(5:10,11)
Jesus condemned sin in the flesh, while in the flesh. His body is now instructed and empowered to do the same.
"And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS." (Romans 8:10)
"My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the RIGHTEOUS. He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, 'I know Him,' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps HIS WORD, truly the love of God is perfected (has been completed) in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk JUST AS HE WALKED." (1 John 2:1-6)
"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine (His words), and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock." (Matthew 7:24,25)
"For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of RIGHTEOUSNESS, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them."(2 Peter 2:21)
"For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you. Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? -- unless indeed you are disqualified. But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified." (2 Corinthians 13:4-6) These were qualified by what Jesus is known for- the word of the cross of Christ had become theirs! They had been made the righteousness of God by His word.
"My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord- that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful." (James 5:10,11)
"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with ENDURANCE the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him ENDURED the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who ENDURED such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation that speaks to you as to sons:
'My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.'
If you ENDURE chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons." (Hebrews 12:1-8)
If Job had continued to justify himself, he would have delayed (or cancelled) what the Lord intended. After Job's deliverance from "uttering what he did not understand" in the midst of the fiery trial, he said, "I have heard about You with the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.' (Job 42:3-6) Your eye clearly seeing Him - the end intended by the Lord!
